Presidential Secretariat to reopen on Monday?

Sri Lanka’s besieged presidential office will reopen on Monday (Jul 25), police said, days after anti-government demonstrators were flushed out in a military crackdown that triggered international condemnation.

“The office is ready for reopening from Monday,” said a police official on Sunday, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media. Western governments, the United Nations and human rights groups have condemned Presidnet Ranil Wickremesinghe for using violence against unarmed protesters who had announced their intention to vacate the site later on Friday.

Police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said protesters were free to continue their demonstrations at a designated site near the presidential office. The government may even open a few more places for demonstrators in the city,” Thalduwa said on Sunday.

The military operation to clear the secretariat building and its immediate surroundings came less than 24 hours after Wickremesinghe was sworn in and just before a new Cabinet was appointed.